This message is from: "mom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks for your kind words, Ann! I did see Van Zimmerman as he was leaving to go out on the marathon. Linda and I finished up about noon and headed for home (after the front loader pulled our rig out of the mud!) before the rest had gone--got home about 8, but at least it was still daylight. Re: Navigating. It is a blast. I don't have a horse of my own that I can compete at CDE at this time (I do have a wonderful fjord gelding, but we're not ready for that yet--and he's almost as old as I am to boot!), BUT the challenge of figuring out the hazards and pacing the horses is such an interesting thing. I absolutely love it. To say nothing of the adrenalin rush. This is the second time I've 'gatored at Lord Stirling for Linda (she drives a buckskin Morgan named Yukon Gold aka Kody) --she's been competing in this sport for 20 years, so is a great teacher/mentor. I 'gator primarily for Marsha Korose and her marvelous fjord pair--Ulend and Solvar. We've done ADTs and last spring our first CDE at Elk Creek where Marsha won training pair pony. And we'll be there this year -- I'll be at My Lady's Manor in May with Linda, and as 'gator for Mary Jo Graber and her mustang/percheron Smokey at the Laurels.
It requires balance and muscle and a sense of the physics of things to 'gator and you know how much work is involved in that kind of a competition--but the camaradery, the delight in the wonderful horses, and the fun is just indescribable. Although with the _weather_ at Lord Stirling this year, it might be considered mass masochism! COLD and WET and SOUPY. I did get a couple of pictures of you and will send them on when we get back from vacation next week and I get my camera unloaded. Also, did you notice that the competition program featured a painting of a fjord on the cover, that Beval Saddlery's add featured a fjord, and that the center picture section also showed a fjord (I think it is you!). A pretty good showing. You all did yourselves and the breed proud! Sue This message is from: "Ed Sullivan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks Sue, for your kind words after Lord Stirling, I didn't get to visit with you, as is so often the case at shows -- Magz and Ree had a great first time out, they have a wonderful bond. We are all sooo proud of the kid, and her horse. There was one other fjordhorse there, Van Zimmerman's lovely mare Tasja, who is currently pictured on the NFHR homepage. She is a big strong Hjerter-Knaecht granddaughter, a very nice mover -- he drives Prelim. Maryke and I slipped to fourth place after marathon, we came in 30 seconds late. The conditions were challenging, to say the least, so I drove "for my horse, not the clock," to paraphrase Pam Pruitt. We came in on time in sections A and D, but I didn't push her in section E, it was pretty tough going out there, and we were the first ones out on the track !! Must have really been crazy later in the day when you went out (Everybody, Sue is too modest to mention that she navigated for her friend Linda Kalman and her pair - -- what a woman!). This was Maryke's first and only "real CDE" -- I am so happy with her condition and work ethic at 19, and after so many foals -- she recovers beautifully after the stress of marathoning -- we passed the vet checks with flying colors, which was about my only goal for this season! From now on she will only be asked to do shorter distances like driving trials and club drives. Biddy took her to an arena trial earlier this spring, and will drive her at Haddam Meadows, a local trial, in May. Going outside now to polish the brass on the road cart -- we didn't use it because of the conditions, but it was sooo wet this weekend I have to re-polish and re-Saran Wrap it before storing -- dang, showing is taking up all of my driving time again !!! Happy spring, Ann S. in CT - ----- Original Message ----- From: mom Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 10:42 PM To: fjordhorse-digest Subject: Fjords rule! This message is from: "mom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> And congratulations to Maggie and Ann Sullivan and their lovely fjords! They placed first and second in the training single pony division under cold, wet, dreary conditions. ------------------------------
